The development of the document is aimed at implementing the provisions of the law "On Biological Safety in the KR," adopted on January 23, 2025, under number 25. The main goal of this project is to establish a state system that will focus on the prevention and mitigation of biological threats.
Within the framework of the project, it is proposed to introduce a unified terminology, define measures to counter biological threats, as well as establish the powers of state bodies and mechanisms for monitoring and assessing risks.
According to the justification of the document, biological safety is an intersectoral issue that affects national security. The adoption of this resolution at the government level will make it mandatory for all executive authorities, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology, and the State Customs Service.
This act will help streamline the work of state bodies in the field of biosafety, clearly delineate their powers, and implement international standards. As a result, Kyrgyzstan will enhance its readiness to respond to outbreaks of dangerous infections, acts of bioterrorism, and accidents at biologically hazardous facilities, in accordance with the obligations under the International Health Regulations of 2005, explains the Ministry of Health.
Appendix
Appendix 1
Procedure for Preventing and Mitigating Biological Threats
Chapter 1. General Provisions
1. This procedure (hereinafter referred to as the Procedure) has been developed in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 5 of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic dated January 23, 2025, No. 25 "On Biological Safety in the Kyrgyz Republic" and establishes the procedure for ensuring biological protection.
Chapter 2. Terms and Definitions Used
2. Biological threat or hazard is a situation caused by anthropogenic or natural factors that poses a threat to the life and/or vital activity of humans or animals, associated with the negative impact of biological pathogens of any level and origin (from prions to multicellular parasites), which may pose a danger in the medical-social, technological, agricultural, and communal spheres;
3. Biological safety is the state of protection of humans and the environment (including the atmosphere, water bodies, soil, plant and animal life) from the impact of pathogenic biological agents and/or technologies, ensured by a system of political, legal, economic, technological, and biosafety measures;
4. Biological protection is a set of measures aimed at ensuring control, accounting, and protection of biological materials and/or equipment related to their processing, to prevent unauthorized access, loss, theft, or leakage;
5. Biological weapons are pathogenic microorganisms or their spores intended for mass destruction of humans and animals, as well as for contaminating food and water sources.
6. Biological risk is the combination of the probability of harmful effects occurring and the severity of that effect on humans and the environment, if the source is a pathogenic biological agent;
7. Biological threat is the presence of dangerous biological factors that can lead to mass diseases, deterioration of the biological safety situation, or emergencies;
8. Source of biological hazard is an environmental object that serves as a reservoir for pathogenic agents, including those introduced into the territory of Kyrgyzstan.
9. Monitoring of biological risks is the process of identifying, analyzing, and assessing biological risks based on unified criteria;
10. Assessment of biological risks is the process of analyzing risk associated with biological hazards, including the evaluation of existing control measures;
11. Handling of pathogenic agents is the processes related to their isolation, development, production, storage, and transportation, aimed at research and destruction;
12. Pathogenic agents (PBA) are microorganisms, viruses, and other agents capable of causing diseases in humans, animals, or plants;
13. Pathogenic microorganisms are organisms capable of causing pathological processes;
14. Potentially hazardous biological object is an object associated with pathogenic agents;
15. Biotechnology products are products created using living organisms to solve technological tasks.
16. Transboundary movement is the movement of biological agents across borders.
Chapter 3. Abbreviations Used
WHO - World Health Organization
GMO - genetically modified organisms
DPZ and GSE - Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance
DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid
MH KR - Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic
IHRS - International Health Regulations
PBA - pathogenic biological agents
Republican Center for the Prevention and Control of Particularly Dangerous, Quarantine Infections
RNA - ribonucleic acid
SanPiN - sanitary rules and norms
PPE - personal protective equipment
Civil Defense and Laboratory Control Network
BSL - biosafety levels
Emergency Situations
Chapter 4. Major Biological Threats
The impact of natural, technological, and military factors on potentially hazardous biological objects;
Changes in the genetic properties of pathogens, including their resistance and habitats;
The creation of pathogens using biotechnology and genetic engineering;
Unauthorized access to pathogenic biological agents and their transboundary movement;
The emergence and spread of new infectious diseases, rare and previously unencountered infections on the territory of the KR;
Exceeding average levels of morbidity in humans, animals, and plants;
The spread of infections associated with medical assistance and veterinary activities, as well as the potential for occupational diseases;
Infection of humans and the environment when handling pathogenic agents;
The use of pathogenic agents or biotechnology as biological weapons;
The occurrence of accidents and terrorist acts at facilities housing sources of biological threats;
The transmission of pathogenic agents across borders.
Chapter 5. Levels of Biological Hazard
Low level of biological risk – a situation arising from natural disasters or major accidents that can cause infectious diseases not transmitted from infected to healthy individuals, with available treatment options;
Medium level of biological risk – a situation where infectious diseases can be transmitted from infected to healthy individuals, with available treatment options;
High level of biological risk – a situation where infections are easily transmitted, and no treatment options are available;
Acceptable level of biological risk – a state in which all levels of risk are minimized in the event of ecological situations;
The criteria for determining levels of biological threats are approved by the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Chapter 6. A Complex of Measures for Preventing and Mitigating Biological Threats
The procedure for preventing and mitigating biological threats includes:
Monitoring and risk assessment - continuous monitoring of the biological environment to forecast potential threats;
Establishment of a surveillance and laboratory control network to monitor environmental pollution and the emergence of epidemics;
Implementation of protective measures, including individual and collective protective equipment;
Isolation and restrictive measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases;
Ensuring the safety of microbiological laboratories and control over pathogens;
Response measures in case of emergencies, including public notification;
Creation and management of state reserves for eliminating the consequences of emergencies;
Scientific research in the field of biological safety and the development of new methods;
Main research directions:
Development of methods for detecting and identifying dangerous pathogens;
Risk assessment of exposure to various biological agents;
Creation of new vaccines and disinfection methods;
Monitoring the spread of dangerous biological agents;
Analysis of ecological risks from the introduction of alien species;
Chapter 7. Prevention and Mitigation of Biological Threats from Various Factors
Measures to protect against pathogens resulting from natural or technological disasters;
Risk assessment and monitoring of the situation;
Ensuring the safety of facilities and developing response plans;
Civil defense and public preparedness;
International cooperation in the field of protection against biological threats;
Chapter 8. Prevention of Unauthorized Access to Pathogenic Agents
Access control measures for biological agents.
Use of personal protective equipment and compliance with waste handling regulations.
Training and monitoring of personnel working with pathogens.
Involvement of law enforcement agencies in cases of unauthorized access.
Chapter 9. Prevention and Mitigation of Infectious Diseases
Measures for controlling and preventing infectious diseases, including early detection and isolation.
Informing and educating the public on the rules for preventing infectious diseases.
Vaccination and chemoprophylaxis for at-risk groups.
Control of natural foci of infections.
Chapter 10. List of Organizations Responsible for Biological Safety
The following ministries and republican management bodies are responsible for biosafety:
Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Food Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic
State Customs Service under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Digital Development and Innovative Technologies of the Kyrgyz Republic
Chapter 11. Final Provisions
Funding for measures to prevent biological threats will be carried out within the framework of the republican budget for the relevant year.
The Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic commits to annually submit a report on the state of biological safety to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Appendix 2
Criteria for Monitoring and Assessing Biological Risks, as well as a List of Organizations Authorized to Conduct Risk Assessments
Chapter 1. General Provisions
The state of biological safety is determined by the protection of the population and the environment from the negative impact of dangerous biological factors, under which the biological risk remains at an acceptable level.
The presence of dangerous biological factors that form unacceptable risks and can lead to the emergence of epidemics represents a biological threat.
Chapter 2. Biological Threats
Changes in the properties of pathogens and their vectors;
Overcoming interspecies barriers by pathogens;
Introduction and spread of new infectious diseases;
Creation of pathogens using biotechnology;
Disruption of normal microbiota and the emergence of diseases;
Spread of infections causing mortality in humans;
Spread of infections associated with medical assistance and veterinary activities;
Spread of resistance to drugs;
The use of pathogenic agents as biological weapons;
Accidents and terrorist acts at facilities with biological threats;
Advances in biological science creating new sources of danger;
Chapter 3. Criteria for Monitoring and Assessing Biological Risks
Epidemic and epizootic potential:
1) probability of introduction among the population;
2) probability of introduction among animals;
3) probability of transmission from animals to humans.
Properties of the pathogenic biological agent:
Rate of spread;
Need for enhanced biosafety measures;
Detection of isolated cases may cause an emergency;
High risk of lethality;
Detection of new pathogens atypical for the region;
Mutation of known pathogens;
Lack of preparedness of response services;
High risk of destabilizing national security;
Detection of resistant pathogens;
Recommendations from international organizations;
Results of risk assessments.
The state of the operational response system:
Operational response in case of suspicion of infections;
Availability of regulatory documents for response;
System for training specialists in biosafety;
Availability of effective treatment protocols;
Functioning of the surveillance and control network.
Chapter 12. Compliance with International Requirements
Compliance with international biosafety standards;
Transboundary agreements on response to threats;
Common obligations for information exchange;
Systems for evaluating veterinary services;
Funding for biosafety measures;
Exchange of genetic data.
Chapter 13. Overall Risk Situation
Political risks and biological safety risks;
Socio-economic resilience;
Infrastructure adaptation;
Environmental risks;
Vulnerability of the healthcare system.
Chapter 14. List of Organizations Involved in Monitoring Biological Risks
Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Food Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic
Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Digital Development and Innovative Technologies of the Kyrgyz Republic
State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic
Chapter 15. Identification of Biological Agents
| No. | Stage / Operation | Potential Biological Agent | Routes of Infection | Probability | Severity | Risk Level | Risk Mitigation Measures |
| 1 | Receipt and registration of clinical material | Pathogenic microorganisms | Contact, aerosol | Medium | Medium | Medium | PPE, airtight packaging of samples |
| 2 | Seeding material on nutrient media | Salmonella spp., E. coli | Contact, aerosol | Medium | Medium | Medium | Work in a biosafety cabinet, hand disinfection |
| 3 | Working with cultures of II pathogenicity group | M. tuberculosis, Brucella spp. | Aerosol, contact | Medium | High | High | BSL-3 laboratory, laminar flow hood |
| 4 | Virological studies | Influenza virus, coronavirus | Aerosol, contact | Medium | Medium high | Medium high | Work in Class II cabinet, staff vaccination |
| 5 | Parasitological studies | Helminth eggs | Contact | Medium | Medium | Medium | PPE, disinfection of instruments |
| 6 | Centrifugation of infected samples | Various pathogens | Aerosol | Medium | High | High | Centrifuges with sealed rotors |
| 7 | Microscopy of preparations | Bacteria, viruses | Contact, aerosol | Medium | Medium | Medium | Work under a hood, use of gloves |
| 8 | Disposal and decontamination of waste | All listed agents | Contact | Medium | Medium | Medium | Autoclaving, chemical disinfection |
| 9 | Storage of pathogenic cultures | Pathogens of I–III groups | Contact | Low | High | Medium | Sealed ampoules, accounting journal |
| 10 | Emergency situations | Any pathogens | Contact, aerosol | Medium | High | High | Response instructions, disinfection |
Chapter 16. Risk Assessment Scale
| Risk Level | Description | Recommended Actions |
| Low | Risk is controlled by standard measures | Regular monitoring and instruction |
| Medium | Incident possible with regulatory violations | Increased control |
| High | Significant risk — enhanced protection required | BSL-3, additional protective measures |
| Critical | Unacceptable risk | Cease operations until threats are eliminated |
Chapter 17. Additional Aspects
Biosafety: preventing unauthorized access to hazardous agents.
Bio-protection of personnel: training, use of PPE, vaccination.
Monitoring and auditing: regular assessment of compliance with protocols.
Documentation: maintaining logs, incident registration.
